Sr Engineering Manager - Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technical Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Sierra Nevada Corporation • Lone Tree, CO

12d

About The Position

SNC is seeking a highly experienced and knowledgeable Sr Engineering Manager – Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) to join our team! The AI Tech SME will report to the IAS Sr Chief Engineer. This position is essential to drive our AI productivity initiatives, ensure alignment with cutting-edge technological advancements, and maintain our competitive edge in the industry. The AI Tech SME will bring in-depth knowledge and expertise in AI principles and applications to increase the effectiveness of our teams. This expertise is crucial for developing and implementing solutions that can significantly enhance our engineering execution in IAS. The role requires a leader with the capability to define, articulate, and champion a strategic vision for AI productivity. This vision will be communicated effectively to Senior Leaders within the IAS business area, within the SNC corporation, and to external stakeholders, ensuring cohesive and forward-thinking AI strategies. The AI Tech SME will serve as a mentor and guide for our engineering teams, providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to leverage AI technologies to increase productivity and efficiency. This will foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation, which is critical for maintaining our technological leadership. Engagement with the broader AI community and industry forums by the AI Tech SME is vital for staying abreast of emerging trends and technologies. The AI Tech SME will represent SNC at industry events, contributing to our growing influence and participation in the AI field. At SNC’s ISR, Aviation and Security (IAS) team, we are a leading manned and unmanned aircraft and space systems integrator for high-performance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, space and aviation systems. IAS tailors’ solutions to customer cost, performance, and schedule requirements and designs to consistently exceed expectations and provide a turnkey approach to enable our customers to focus on their mission. Who we are:At SNC’s ISR, Aviation and Security (IAS) team, we are a leading manned and unmanned aircraft and space systems integrator for high-performance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, space and aviation systems. IAS tailors’ solutions to customer cost, performance, and schedule requirements and designs to consistently exceed expectations – with an unrivaled record of on time and on (or under) budget deliveries. Success Looks Like: Playing a central role in defining and prioritizing initiatives within the IAS Co-Intelligence Council, ensuring alignment with business growth objectives and employee productivity enhancements. Utilizing standardized methodologies for calculating the value of AI initiatives (e.g., assessing customer impact, business impact, strategic alignment, and operational efficiency), to maximize return on investment. Streamlining collaboration between IAS business areas, corporate IT, and cyber teams to focus on impactful, high-priority tasks. Leveraging their advanced skills in AI principles and applications, the SME will design, develop, test, and certify cutting-edge AI solutions to address complex engineering productivity challenges. Articulating and promoting a forward-looking AI vision to senior leadership and external stakeholders, ensuring cohesive strategies that align with IAS and SNC’s broader objectives. Integrating AI technologies into workflows, to drive efficiencies across business operations, engineering, supply chain, and quality processes. Driving the adoption of AI initiatives by engaging stakeholders, communicating benefits, providing targeted training, and fostering a culture of innovation, ensuring seamless integration and sustained impact across the organization. Establishing and leveraging relationships across SNC business areas and within industry. Participating in forums and events, the AI Tech SME will represent SNC in the AI community, staying current with emerging trends and reinforcing the company’s technological leadership in the aerospace and defense sectors.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science or a related engineering discipline.
• Typically, 10+ years of progressive engineering experience, which includes 6+ years of management experience.
• Ability to integrate AI solutions with existing systems and tools to maximize productivity gains.
• Proficiency in designing, implementing, and optimizing machine learning models and algorithms for real-world applications.
• Expertise in preparing, cleaning, and structuring data for AI solutions, ensuring high-quality inputs.
• Experience with deploying AI models into production environments, integrating them into existing workflows, and managing their lifecycle.
• Capability to define and articulate a clear vision for AI deployment and align it with organizational goals.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with diverse teams, including engineering, operations, and IT.
• Ability to identify productivity challenges and devise innovative AI-based solutions to address them.
• Ability to foster acceptance and usage of AI tools by addressing resistance, emphasizing benefits, and supporting transitions.
• Ensuring that AI solutions comply with data security regulations.
• Progressive Experience working in multi-disciplinary design and development teams.
• Demonstrated knowledge of engineering principles and practices related to Software Engineering.
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary design and development teams.
• Demonstrated leadership of new business initiatives, identification and execution of enterprise development activities and transition to production.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, reasoning and decision-making abilities.
• Experience communicating and presenting to all levels of the organization including senior executive leadership and customers, ensuring buy-in and alignment.
• Possesses an expert-level knowledge of engineering/design principles.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance is required.
• U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Progressive experience leading baseline definition and maturation in a complex development setting, including the use of high impact trade studies and other measures.
• Skill in coaching teams to adopt AI technologies effectively, ensuring their integration into daily workflows.
• Thorough understanding and knowledge of software development methodologies such as Agile/Scrum, Waterfall, and Spiral.
• Background in the Aerospace and Defense Industry and experience supporting DoD programs and customers.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, highly professional, diplomatic, demonstrated executive-level presence, outstanding stewardship, and relationship building skills.
• Serves as an advisor or key contributor on large complex projects, with the accountability to ensure successful execution of the program plan.
• Nationally recognized subject matter expert and highly respected within the customer communities.
• Participates in industry community for respective area of expertise, such as relevant associates, committees, conferences, publications, standards development, etc.
• Experience in career development of technical staff through training and mentorship.
• Thorough understanding of requirements management, functional requirements parsing, derivation, and allocation; systems design, systems integration, technical risk identification and management strategies, and Verification and Validation (V&V) principles.
• Previous management experience; exposure to recruiting employees; assigning, directing, and evaluating their work; and overseeing the development and maintenance of staff competence.
• Experience with identifying and coordinating resources to ensure the required tools, processes, and training are available/effective and programs are staffed and supported to achieve success.
• Understanding of how to prepare project schedules, budgets, bids, and estimates for proposed program work packages.

Responsibilities

• Playing a central role in defining and prioritizing initiatives within the IAS Co-Intelligence Council, ensuring alignment with business growth objectives and employee productivity enhancements.
• Utilizing standardized methodologies for calculating the value of AI initiatives (e.g., assessing customer impact, business impact, strategic alignment, and operational efficiency), to maximize return on investment.
• Streamlining collaboration between IAS business areas, corporate IT, and cyber teams to focus on impactful, high-priority tasks.
• Leveraging their advanced skills in AI principles and applications, the SME will design, develop, test, and certify cutting-edge AI solutions to address complex engineering productivity challenges.
• Articulating and promoting a forward-looking AI vision to senior leadership and external stakeholders, ensuring cohesive strategies that align with IAS and SNC’s broader objectives.
• Integrating AI technologies into workflows, to drive efficiencies across business operations, engineering, supply chain, and quality processes.
• Driving the adoption of AI initiatives by engaging stakeholders, communicating benefits, providing targeted training, and fostering a culture of innovation, ensuring seamless integration and sustained impact across the organization.
• Establishing and leveraging relationships across SNC business areas and within industry.
• Participating in forums and events, the AI Tech SME will represent SNC in the AI community, staying current with emerging trends and reinforcing the company’s technological leadership in the aerospace and defense sectors.

Benefits

• SNC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level